Mechanical movement.



No. 871,110. PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907.

' W. R. COMINGS:

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT. APPLICATION FILED `JUNE 14. 190e.

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2 SHEETS-SHEET Inventor: Milam/IZ C0222# 5 By bis Attornex W'itnesses No. 871,110. PATENTED Nov. 19, 1907.

' W. R. GOMINGS.

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT.

APPLIATION FILED JUNE 14. 1906.

2 SHEETS-BEBER?.

Witnesses: I In ventor:

his Attorne UNITED sTATEs PATENT OEEIOE.

' i i WILLIAM R. ooMINGs, or LONDON, ENGLAND MECHANICAL MOVEMENT.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

To all whom it 'may concern.'

e Be it known that l, WILLIAM R. COMINGs,

a citizen of the United States of America, re-

- siding invWharnclitle l/Vimbledon, London,

'/S.; W., England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanical 'Movement of which the following is a specification.

T his i'nven `on relates to aform of mechanical movement for the locking or interlocking of two members of a machine or device that are -movable relatively, until the application of a certain predetermined amount of force, whereupon the locking means will anytomatically release, and permit the relative sliding movement of the members.

One object of the invention is to provide means. whereby two members will be locked together until the Aexertion of a certain predetermined force, tending to cause the members' to move relatively, whereupon the locking means will yield and permit the relative movement of the members.

1 A Jurther object is to provide means for varying' the resistance of the locking' means whereby the amount oi' force necessary to vcause the locking member to yield, can be regulated as desired. v A further object is to provide a form ot rolling locking member whose working position can be adjusted whereby the angle of engagement with the movable member can be varied, and thereby the amount of force necessary `to unlock the members can be regulated.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating embodiments of my invention, Figure 1 shows a conventional form of press, showing Iforming `,and cutting dies, with my invention appliedthere to. Fig.'2 is a view of the lever Jfor operating the press, showing its connection with the plunger member. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary' view in elevation of certain parts shown in Fig. 1 Fig. 4 is a vertical yaxial section through the plunger member and othrparts, showing it in normal position. Fig. 5 is a view similar to'Fig. 4 showing .the sliding members in advance position. Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view correspending to Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but with the slidable rod in a slightly advanced position. Fig. 8 is a view Similar tO-Fig. 6 of a modification showing a roller instead of a ball locking member. .F ig. 9 is a section on the line 9--9 indicated ig.` 1. Fig. 10 represents a piece of work operated upon by ono-of the parts shown in Fig. 1.. Fig. 11 shows in side elevation, partly in section, a modiiication in which the two members provided ,with the interlocking means, are movable. in a curvedl path. Fig. 12 is a plan view, partly in section of the construction shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 13 illustrates another modification of members moving in curved paths, in which' the interlocking means is placed between side faces, instead of on the peripheries of the members as shown in Fig. 11. Fig. 14 is a side elevation partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 13; and Fig. 15 is a partial section on. the line 15-15 indicated in Fig. 14.

The invention comprises essentially two members which are relatively movable, and a locking means arranged to retain the members in a certain relative iixed position, until the exertion of a certain predeterniined force, which will cause the locking means to yield and permit the relative slidingI movement of the members. In one construction illustrated, one of thomembers comprises a plunger tube 12, in which a member is slidable, the other member, in the form shown comprising a plunger rod 13. ln theapplication' of the mechanical movement illustrated in Fig. 1, the plunger tube 12 is slidable in a frame 14, and operated by a lover 15 hinged at the top of thc frame. The plunger rod 13 is shown as carrying a pressing die member 16 cooperating with a stationery die plate 17,v to suitably impress a piece of work, such as a strip 1S, placed between the die members. Upon the lever being depressed, the plunger members 13- and 12 being locked together, the pressing dies 16 and 17. will engage and arrest the. movement of the tube 12 and lever. But upon sufficient pressure being exerted, since the rod 13 has its further movement prevented, the locking means will yield, and permit the further Inovcmcnt of the plunger tube 12. This tube 12 may carry a second working member that will bc brought into operation subsequent to the operation of the working member lcarried by thc plunger rod 13. In the form shown, cutting dies 19 are secured to a bar 2O fast on tlie plunger `tube 12, and pass through apertures 21 in the die plate 16 5 and after piercing the work or plate 1S, enter the apertures 22 in the die plate 17. Obviously, other forms of working members may be carried by the plunger 45 in the. tube 12.

60 ube 12. i

til a certain pressure is exerted, whereupon the loclring niemberiwill yield and retreat 'from the shtnildered portion, permitting the movement ol' the members relatively. The tube 12 is shown as provided with a socket l5-portion, formed by a branch tube 23 whose opening into lthe tube 12 is. slightly larger thanl the diameter of a rolling member, shown as comprising a ball 24. The rod 13 is provided with a shouldered portion 25,

formed by means ot' a recess 26 of suiicient size to permit the ball to move therein and engage the shoulder 25, or the edge thereof. rI`he ball is pressed into the recess to engage the shoulder by suitable means; preferably `yieldable, and comprising, in the form shown, a plunger 27 pressed against the ball by means of a coil spring 21S; whose tension is adjusted by means ot a screw plunger 29, `engaging the threaded aperture in a cap 30,

so fast on the end of the tube 23. The amount of entrance ofthe ball into the socket is limited by some portion forming the bottom wall of the recess 26. In the form shown, the stop portion of the recess in the tube 13,

is formed by means of an adjustable screw 31, whose end engages the ball. This screw engages a threaded aperture 32 extending through the rod. The tube 12 may be provided with an opening'33 to permit adjust- 40 ment of the stop screw 81 by a screw driver or other means.

The movement of the rod 13 in the tube 12 may be limited by means of a screw 34 tapped in the rod 13, and riding in a slot These parts may be so arranged that the screw is at one end of the slot when the ball is in position for locking engagement, and will therefore arrest the return movement ofthe rod in the tube, after the rod has been advanced, and is returned by any suitable means.

The returnof the rod to its former locking position after being advanced, may be eilected by meansof a spring 36 located in the tube 12, between one end of the rod 13,'and

the end of the tube -12. In the form shown, the spring is adjustable by means of a pluri ger 37 whose threaded stem engages a 'threaded aperture in the end cap 38 of the The operation of the described locking ,means is as follows: In the normal position of the plunger rod and plunger tube, indithe spring 28. Upon a certain pressure being exerted downward o'n the tube 12, as by the lever 15 or otherwise., and the motion ot the rod 13 being arrested, by the engagement of the die plates 16 and 17, the shoulder portion 25 at its ou t-er edge will engage the ball and move it upwards until it strikes ball, the mechanical operation will be some-- what similar to that of a wedge whose sides are, very little inclined from the parallel. Therefore the force required to move the ball into the branch member against the force of the coil spring will be comparatively great. But upon such resistance being overcome, the ball will roll on the engaging edge of the shoulder 25 as .it retreats into the member. This will have the etectvof presenting a fresh surface of the engagement ot the ball at each operation, and hence prevent undue wear on the same. Vhen the ball begins to move into its socket, the resistance' will decrease, because the direction ot' application ot force changes, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 7. The tangent of the ball at the point ot application of force at the shoulder edge, approaching the vertical, or perpendicular line Since the place of engage# to the resisting face of the branch tube, will cause the ball to move inward with much less resistance. As the shoulder passes bcyond the ball, the latter will simply be pressed against the side of the rod 13 as indicated in Fig. 5, and offer comparatively little resistance to the movement of the rod. lVhen the rod 13 is returned to its former position,

as by spring 36 or otherwise, the ball will be pressed into the recess again by the spring 2S, and return to its former matically.

By adjusting the screw stop member 31, the initial position of the ball can be regulated, and therefore the point oi application of the force by the shoulder edge on the ball will be varied. If the stop i member is screwed out to cause the ball to enter a less distance into the socket, the tangent line of engagement of tbe shoulder edge with, the ball will malte a greater angle with the engaging face of the branchtube with the ball, and therefore less' force is necessary to overcome resistance to movement of the ball into branch tube. The amount of resistance of the ball to its unlocking movement can also be varied by adjusting the Itension ol position autothe spring'28, through the screw plunger 29. By increasing this pressure, obviously a greater amount ot force is necessary to canse cated in Fig. 4, the ball is pressed into enthe ball to retreat and permit advancement 65 gagement with the stop screw 31 by means of I oi' the rod 13.

reticallyon a point of theball. And the upper face of the bore of the branch tube will engage throughout a line/on the roller,

`insteadfot on a point on a ball..

When the lever 1.5 oi the press islowered, the die member 16 and 17 will engage to form ribs 41 and 42 in the plate 1S, and thereupon the. further motion oi the iod 13 is arrested. Upon greater force being exerted-` on the lever 15, the tube l2 being iorced downward, will cause the upper portion of the wall of the branch 23 to engage the ball and force it into engagement with the edge oi" the shoulder 25. This will arrest the further movement downward of the plunger.

But upon a siiilicient `force being exerted, :the ball will be caused to retreat into vthe branch member, and the plunger 12 will be permitted to descend, causing the cutting dies 19 to penetrate the plate 18. Upon release ot the handle the'spring 36 that has been compressed will expand and return the parts to their former position.

In'Figs. in which the two movable' members provided with interlock ing means, are relatively movable in a curved path. An arm 50 is pivoted at 51 and provided with a segment 5 2 havinga concentric channel 53. ln this channel slides a segment bar 54 that may be held therein from lateral movement by means ot shoulder portions 55,011 the arm lengaging suitable rabbet portions on the bar 54. .The segment bar may be operated by a link 56 if desired. the arm 5() is provided with a socket portion containing the interlocking member, which is shown as coi'np'rising a roller member or ball 57 that is pressed outward by a plunger 5S. A coilspring 50 extends between the plunger and an adjusting screw 60, whereby the tension on the ball is adjusted. The segmentbar 54 is provided with a recess 6l, one or both edges or shoulders of which will engage the ball and force it against the opposite shoulder of the socket, thereby locking they members together until siil'l'icient force is exerted tending to move the segment bar relative to the arm, whereupon the 11 and 12 is shown a constructionln the form shown i ball willv retreat and compress the spring, permitting the said relative movement. The

entrance of the ball into the recess 61 is adjustably limited by means of a screw 62 conmember in this construction is substantially ures described wherein the parts are shown as movable in rectilinear paths. In the construction illustrated in Figs. 13, 14 and 15,'the interlocking means is located between a Wheel member and a hub member 71, that are concentrically movable rela-tively. ln a socket 72 in the hub member 71 is arranged the interlocking member, shown as a ball 73, that is pressed outward by plunger 74 'and spring 75; the tension on the spring being adjusted by a serewmember 7o operating in athreaded hole 7 7 in the sleeve 72. The wheel member 70 is provided with a recess 78,`tlie opposite edges of its side walls engaging the ball to lock the members, un-

til sul'licient force'is exerted to cause the spring to compress, permitting the ball to retreat into the socket. the ball into the recess 78 is `adjustably limited by a screw 7) opeiating in a threaded bore SO'in the wheel member 70. The operation of the locking device in this constiuction is substantially identical with that described with reference to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive. But in. all of the forms shown, the ball or other interlocking member can engage either ofthe opposite faces oi. the socket portion of one member, and thereby lockthe members together against movement relatively in opposite directions. Whichever way the. members vare moved,` the side wall oi' one member will engage the ball and Vforce it against the oppositely located side w all of the other member, and thereby arrest the further movement of the members until suilicient force is exerted to unlock the de- The entrance of v'icc and release the members for movement relatively.

.llaving thus described my invention, l. claim:

l. The combination of two members relatively movable, an interlocking ymember organized to lock the members together and prevent relative movement until the-exertion oi a certain predetermined force, whereupon such member will shift and permit the relative movement of the members, and two separate adjustable means for varying the amount oi said force required to eflect said release.

2. The combination of two iiicmbcis relatively movable, an interlocking member organized to lock the members together and prevent relative movement until the exertion oi a certain predetermined force, whereupon sucli means will release and permit the relative movement oll tlu` members, apd

means l'or adjusting the ciigageniei'it oi the locking member with one of the members to thereby vary the amount o'l' the force necessar)r to c'llect the ielca:-:e.`

Il. The combination of tw o members relatively movable, an interlocking member organized to lock` the members together and the `same as that set forth in the other hgprevent relative movement until the exertion of a. certain predetermined torce, whereupon such means will release and permit the relative movement of the members, lmeans tor adjusting the engagement ol" the locking member with one ot' the members to thereby vary the amount ot the force necessary to .ellect the release, and resilient means tor y retaining the locking member in locking position. I

The combiiiation olf tivo members relatively movable, an interlocking member organized to lock the members together and prevent relative movement 'until the exertion o'l" a certain predetermined force, whereupon sueb means Will-release and permit the relative movement et the members, means for adjusting the engagement ot' the locking member uit-h one ot the members to thereby vary the amount ol the 'loree necessary to e'll`eet the release, resilient means lor retaining the locking member in locking positiomv varying the amount of engagement ofthe locking member by the shouldered portion.

6. The combination of two members having a relative sliding movement, and an interlocking member organized to lock the members together and prevent relative movement until the exertion el' a certain predetermined torce, whereupon such member-will shift and permit the relative sliding movement of the members, one member being provided with a shoulder, a stop member on one ol the members for limiting the amount of engagement ol" the locking member by the shoulder portion, the stop member being provided with adjustment means `to vary the amount of engagement ol` the locking member with theI shoulder.

T. The combination of tivo members having a relative sliding movement, and in interlocking member organized to lock` the members together and prevent relative movement until vthe exertion ot a certain predetermined force, whereupon such member will shift and permit the relative sliding move.- ment el the members, one member being provided with a shoulder, avstop member on one o'l' the members lor limiting the amount ot engagement. ol the locking memberby 'the shoulder portion, the st-op member heilig provided with adjustment means to vary the amount of engagement of the locking member with the shoulder, and

ment of the locking member by the shoul er portion, the stop member being provided ivith adjustment means toV vary the amount ot engagement of the lockingv member with the shoulder, a spring arranged to press the locking member against the stop member, and means lor adjusting the tension ol the spring.-

i). The combination ot' a meml'ier provided with a socket, a member movable relative tosaid member and provided with ashouldered portion extending perpendicular to the line ot movement et said members, and a locking member carried by and movable in said socket portion and arranged to vengage the other member at its shouldered portion and thereby be pressed against the relatively opopsite wall olY the socket portion to resist movement oi' the members in one direction, the locking member being arranged to retreat into the socket upon the exertion of a certain predetermined force upon the members to release the members and permit relative ,movement thereof.

l0. The combination of a member provided ivith a socket, a member movable relative to said member and provided-with a shouldered portion extending perpendicular to the line of movement of said members, and a locking member carried by and movlable in said socket portion and arran ed to engage the other member at its shou dered portion and thereby be pressed against the relatively opposite Wall of the socket portion to resist movement of the members in one direction, 'the locking member being arranged to retreat into the socket upon the exertion ol a certain predetermined force" upon the members to release the members and permit relative movement thereof, and a stop portion carried by the shouldered member for limiting-the amount of engagement of the locking memberby the shouldered portion of the other member.

l1. The combination of a member provided vvith a socket, a member movable relative to said member and provided with a shouldered portion perpendicular to the line of movement, a locking member carried by the socket member and arranged to engage the other member at its shouldered portion to thereby prevent relative movement of the ing the amount of enga member by the shoulder portion, the stop I member being adjustable to vary the amount i members in one direction, the locking member-being arranged to retreat into the socket upon' the exertion of a certain predetermined ,force upon'the members to release the members and` permit relative movement, a stop member on the shouldered member for limit- 0ement of the locking of engagement of the locking member with the shoulder.

' y y1'2.,The combination of a member pro- 'vided With a sock-et, a member movable relative to said memberprovided with a shoulder portion, a locking member carried by the socket member and arranged to engage the other member at its shouldered portion to thereby resist relative movement of the umembers in one direction, the locking member being arranged to retreat into the socket l upon they exertion of a certain predetermined force -upon the members to release the membersand permit relative movement, a stop ortioncarried by the shoulder member'for imiting the amountl of engagement of the locking member by the shouderportion, and

. yi'eldable means for pressing thev locking andstop member. 30

member into engagement with the shoulder VVtermine force upon the members to release thevmembers 'and permit relative movement thereof, ajstop portion carriedl by the shoul- I der member for limiting the amount of en- VLgagem'ent ofthe locking member by the `shoulder portion, a spring arranged to press Vthe loekingjrmember against the stop member, and means for adjusting the tension of .the spring.

soi

Q14. The combination of a member provided With a socket, a member movable relative to `said member and provided with a shoulder portion, a rolling member eariied bythe socket member and arranged to enl gagefthe member at its shouldered portion to thereby resist relative movement of the member's'in one directiointhe rolling member being. arranged to roll into the socket upon the exertion of a certain predetermined force upon the members to release the membersand permit relative movement thereof, and a 'stop 'portion carried by the shoulder member 'forvarying the position of engagef menty of the rolling member by the shoulder portion:

15;' The combination of a member provided with a socket, a member movable relative to said member and provided with a shoulder portion, a rolling member carried by the socket member and arranged to en' gage the other member at its shouldered portion to thereby prevent relative movement et the members in one direction, the locking member being ,arranged to roll into the socket upon the exertion ol a certain predetermined Aforce upon the member to release the member and permit relative movement, a stop member on the shoulder member for engagement with the rolling member, the stop member being adjustable to'vary the position of engagement of the locking member with the shoulder.

16. The combination of' a member provided with a socket, a member movable relative-to said member and .provided witlra shoulder portion, a rolling member carried by the socket member and arranged to engage the other member at its shoulder portion to thereby resist relative movement of the members in one direction, the locking member being arranged to roll into the socket member upon the exertion of a certain prede termined i'orce upon the member to release the members and permit relative movement, a stop portion carried by the shoulder member for engagement'with the rolling member, and yieldable means for pressing the rolling member into engagement with the shoulder i and stop member,

17. The combination of a member provided with a socket, a member movable relative to said member, and providedwitli a shoulder portion, a rolling member'carried by the socket member and arranged-to engage the other member at its shoulder portion to thereby resist relative movement of the members iiil one direction, the rolling member being arranged `to roll `into the socket member upon the exertion of a cere tain predetermined force upon the members to release the members and permit relative movement, a stop portion carried by the shoulder member for engagement with the rolling member, a spring arranged to press the rolling member against the stop member,4 and means for adjusting the tension'of the spring.

1 A18. The combination of a member provided With a socket, a member' movable relative to said member and provided .With a recessed portion having a fixed shoulder extending substantially perpendioular to the line of movement of the members, and a rotatable member carried by the socket meinber and arranged-to enter the recess and directly engage the shoulder portion to thereby prevent relative movement of the members until the exertion of a predetermined force whereupon the rotatable member will turn and permit further movement of the members.

19. The combination of' a member pro- .l

i vided with a socket, a member movable relai tive to said member and pro-vided with a rey cessed portion having a fixed shoulder per pendic-ular to the line of motion, a ball member carried by the'socket member and arranged to partly enter the recessed portion to directly Aengage said shoulder portion to thereby prevent relative movement of the members until thefexertion of a predetermined force, whereupon the ball member will turn and permit relative movement of the members.

20.' The combination of a member provided with a socket, a member movable relative to said member and provided with arecessed portion having a fixed shoulder perpendicular to the line of motion, a ball member carried by the socket member" and arranged to partly enter the recessed portion to `directly engage said shoulder' portion to thereby prevent lrelative movement ofthe members until the exertion of a predetermined force, whereupon the ball member will turn and permit relative movement ofthe members, and an adjustable stoparranged to vary the position of' engagement ofthe ball with the shoulder portion.

2l. Thev Combination of a member provided with a socket, a member movable relative to said member and' provided with a recessed portion having a fixed shoulder perpendicular to the line of motion, aballmember carried by the socket member and arranged to partly enter the recessed portion' to directly engage said shoulder portion to thereby prevent relative movement of. the members .until the exertion of a-'predeten mined force, whereupon the ball member will turn and permit relative movement of the members, an adjustable stop arranged to vary the position of engagement of the ball with the shoulder portion, and adjustableL means for pressing the ball against said shoulder by a variable amount of force.

22. The combination of two members'relatively movable, an interlockingmember organized to lock the members together and preventrelative movement until the exertion of'a certain predetermined force, whereupon such member. will release and permit the relative movement of vthe members,

.means for adjusting the engagement of the means for adjusting the engagement of vthel locking member Withone of the, members to thereby vary the amount of the force necessary to effect the release, and means for normally resisting the said relative movement -of the two members, said means being ad! justable to .vary such resistance.

Singed at Nos. 9 to 15 Murray street, New York, N. Y.,'this 12th day of June, 1906.

WILLIAh/l R. COMINGS. `Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. REID, FRANCIS E. Boron. 

